BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
Vote for Target Test Prep, Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026
NEWSWEEK READERS’ CHOICE 2026

BIG NEWS! Target Test Prep has been nominated, and they’d love your vote!

TTP has worked incredibly hard to build the best test prep experience possible, and winning Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Test Prep would mean a lot to them. If TTP has helped you, they’d be incredibly grateful for your vote. You can vote once each day through September 9.

Vote for TTP
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Difference between square root/square

Expert replies
by ildude02 » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:25 pm
I wanted to understand the difference between X^2 =Y vs x = SQRT(Y),

eg: say x^2 = 36, x can be a +ve 6 or a -ve 6. But if X = SQRT(36), then x = 6 since I beleive that given a SQRT of a number, we can only take positive values. Am I right in making that statement.

In that regard, my question is, if I see a DS question asking for value of x, and if the statements are;

1) x^2 = 36;
2)x = SQRT(36)

Can I safely say, B is SUFFICIENT?


In the same regard, an other flavour of the question is,

Is the value of x + y = 0?

1) xy < 0
2)x^2 = y^2

I appreciate your response.
Last edited by ildude02 on Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Join the discussion
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

ildude02 wrote: eg: say x^2 = 36, x can be a +ve 6 or a -ve 6. But if X = SQRT(36), then x = 6 since I beleive that given a SQRT of a number, we can only take positive values. Am I right in making that statement.
Technically, in math-speak, we say that the square root symbol gives the "non-negative square root", (and not the 'positive root') because the result might be equal to zero (which only happens if you take the SQRT of zero). If you see the square root symbol -- which you see in many GMAT questions -- that symbol means 'the non-negative square root'; SQRT(36) is equal to 6. But, as you point out, if x^2 = 36, all you can say is that x = 6 or x = -6; there's no way to find an exact value for x.
For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com

ianstewartgmat.com
Join the discussion

by ildude02 » Mon Jun 23, 2008 8:42 pm
Ian, can we assume that when an equation looks like, x = SQRT(y^2), it doesn't mean that x= y, but it can be either be y or -y as in |y| ?
Join the discussion

by durgesh79 » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:08 pm
x = SQRT(y^2) means x = y. it doest mean x= -y

however if x^2 = y^2, then x = +/- y.


regarding your question

statement 1 : xy < 0 tells that x and y have opp signs. Not suff

statement 2 : x^2 = y^2

(x+y)(x-y) = 0
so either x = - y
or x = y
Not suff

combine both 1 and 2. x = -y so x+y = 0. Suff .. answer C
Join the discussion

by Ian Stewart » Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:43 am
durgesh79 wrote:x = SQRT(y^2) means x = y. it doest mean x= -y
No, ildude was correct here. If you have the equation x = SQRT(y^2), then x cannot be negative, but y can be negative. So x = |y|. Try this with numbers- let y = -6. Then x will not be equal to y.
Join the discussion

by durgesh79 » Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:53 pm
Ian Stewart wrote:
durgesh79 wrote:x = SQRT(y^2) means x = y. it doest mean x= -y
No, ildude was correct here. If you have the equation x = SQRT(y^2), then x cannot be negative, but y can be negative. So x = |y|. Try this with numbers- let y = -6. Then x will not be equal to y.
yes i agree, Thanks for correcting
Join the discussion